H-l I 1 1 1 1 1 ItH-M-Wfl
The Mystery J
of the
Boule Cabinet i
By BURTON E. STEVENSON
Copyright. 1913, by Burton E. . '
Stevenson.
W I 1 1 I I I '' 1H-H-1 H i I H
iii? ii-or rediscovered n old way. id
other words. If you can get a fraction
of a drop of It In man's blood yon
kill hi in by paralysis quicker than if
yoa put a bullet through bis heart."
"Nothing can save a man. thenT I
questioned-"
"Nothing on earth. Freyllnghulsen
thinks tt Is a new discovery. I don't
I think gome one bug dug up one of
the old Medici formulas. Maybe It
was placed In the secret drawer, so
that there would never be any lack of
ammunition for the mechanism."
"Godfrey.'Vl said, "are you still bent
on fooling with that thing?"
"More thnn ever. I'm going to find
that secret drawer, and if the fangs
strike well, I'm ready for them See
here what I bad made today."
lie drew from bis pocket something
that looked like a steel gauntlet sucb
is one sees on suits of old armor. He
slipped it over his rlnht baud.
"You see it covers the back of the
hand completely." he said, "halfway
down the first Joint of the fingers. It
is made of the toughest steel and
would turn a bullet And do you see
bow it is depressed In the middle.
Lester?"
"Yes," 1 said. "1 was wondering
why yon had it made In that shape."
"I want to get a sample of that pot
son. Think what It is. Lester-the
poison of the Medici!"
I sat for a moment looking at him
bnlf In amusement bnlf In sorrow
Ue caught my glunce and put the
gauntlet back Into his pocket
I got out the cablegram and passed
It across to blm. He read It with
brows contracted.
"That seems to put a puncture In
our little romance, doesn't It?" I asked
it last "Armand's man hasn't called
yet? I suppose he'll be around to
morrow." "You will have to turn the cabinet
over to him, of course."
"Why, yes; it belongs to him at
least It doesn't belong to Vantlne. "
"Well. In spits of this." he said. "1
am still Interested In that cabinet
Lester, and I wish yon would keep
possession of It as long aa yoa can
At least I wouldn't give It op until he
delivered to yon the other cabinet
which Vantlne really bought"
"Oh. I'll make blm do that." I agreed
quickly. "That will no doubt take a
few days-longer tban that If Vantlne's
cabinet la In Parts."
"And now let ns go down and have
a look at thla one." bs aald. "as we In
tended doing. Yon will think me fool
ten. Lester, but evea that cablegram
hasn't shaken my belief In the exist
ence of that secret drawer."
"And all the rest?" I asked.
"Yea," he answered slowly, "and all
the rest
CHAPTER VII.
The Burning Eyas.
GODFREY said nothing more on
01 we atopped before the Van
Hne bouse, but I could see.
from his puckered brows, how
desperately be was trying to untan
gle this quirk In the mystery
"The siege seems to have been lift
ed." I remarked, aa we alighted.
"The store?" "l
"Parks telephoned me that yonr ea
teemed contemporaries bad the place
surrounded. I told blm to bold tbe
tortr
"Poor boys!" be commented, smiling
"To think that all they know Is what
Grady Is able to tell them! Which
room Is tbe cabinet In?" be asked
'The anteroom Is there at the left
where those two---shuttered windows
re The cabinet Is In tbe corner room.
There U one vfimlvw on this side and
two pq the otben"
Parlci.-.auMwesed fne oeil almost m
staiiii.v. and L could tell from the way
'il' fnce rhnwtnl-aow glad he was to
Well, I'srks." T stl. aa we stepped
frfiilr. JVerythfet t all right I bopeT
. if." he misivered "ttut-OUl
It t'wt,nii the nerve s little, sir."
I rii-.-i'ii ii iiitx-eiueiit tiehind me, as
I'mir I'arks my o"it. and turned to
. i;,.w('i-s 'ilimii on the cot
''iiMilu.'" 1 s4IA.-'ko you're able to tie
V -. a rv . you f
-i- sir." he answered without
i l Hie '. -thought I'd come
V:'. - ' !i-w I'nrl.s Cfiupany.''
1 Mniiisl lilve i-heeplsUlJ-
ir.m i,, io-i-.n e Ti iit Jumpy here by
i, . trr'-iiM i jji it.. .i to have some
: ',- t -:- tally after tbe
I '- ' !i .I'u. ra '
' - .... -mmnliul find
frev quickly "Whut do you mean?"
i "We've cot a burglsr alarm on the
wlndovs, air. It's usjally turned oil
In the daytime, but I thought I'd bet
ter leave It on today, and It rang about
the middle of the afternoon. I thought
at Bret that one of the other servants
1 had raised a window, but none of
them bad. Something went wrong
with it, 1 guess."
"Did you tats a look at the win
dows?" I asked,
i "Yes, sir. A policeman came to see
what was the matter, and we went
around and examined the windows,
i but they were all locked It made me
feel kind of scary for awhile."
"Does the alarm work now?"
"No, sir. The policeman said there
must be a short circuit somewhere
and that be'd notify tbe people who
put it in But nobody bas come around
yet to Bx if
"We'd better take a look at the win
dows ourselves," suit! Godfrey. "You
stay here. E'nrka. We can find them
all right, and I don't wunt you to leare
that door unguarded for a single In
stunt"
We went from window to window
and Godfrey examined each of them
with a uiinnteness that astonished me
for I hud no Idea what he expected to
find Hut we completed the circuit ol
the ground Hour without his aniwrent
ly discovering anything out of the way
"Let's take a look nt the basement.'
he said, and led te way downstairs
with a readiness which told me that
he had been over the house before. In
a kind of lumber room, standing he
fore its single small window, his elec
trie torch In his baud, be made a (lis
covery.
"Look here!" he said, bis voice qulv
erlng with excitement, and threw o
circle of light on the Jniiib or the win
dow Ht tbe spot where the upper and
lower sashes met
"What is It?" 1 asked after h mo
ment "1 dou't see anything wruug."
"Yon dou't? You dont see that this
bouse was to be entered tonight? Then
what does this mean?'
With bis tinger uail tie turned up the
end of a small Insulated wire. And
then I saw that the wire had been cut
"Yes," said Godfrey dryly, "that ro
mance of mine Is looking up again
Somebody was preparing for a quiet
Invasion of the bouse tonight some
body, of course. Interested in that cab
inet"
"lie wasn't losing any time." I ven
tured-
"Ile knew be hadn't any to lose
When you put those woodea shutters
up you warned blm that you suspected
his gains, fie knew f the alarm was
on It would ring when k cut tbe
wire."
"Why can't we amhusa him?" I ana
gested.
"We might try. bat It will be a
mighty risky undertaking. Lester."
"One risky undertaking Is enough
for tonight" I said, with a sigh, for
my belief In tbe exlateace of tbe s
cret drawer and tbe poison and all the
rest of It bad come back with a rush.
"All right" Godfrey uati "But I'll
Sx thla break."
He got oat bis penknife, loosened
two or three of the staple which held
tbe wire In place, drew tt out scraped
back tbe insulation and twisted tbe
ends tightly together.
There," be added, "that's done. If
the Invader tampers with tbe window
again he will set off tbe alarm. But
6jv That th Wire Had 6on. Cut.
I don I lieiieve lie II I. ..lib It I Hi IJi-y
be .--. 1 kuowi.. trt little gniue la
l!-,tV" -i '
How .xmiI.i ne Kitow .11 V.' ,u.-manl- j-.
ea'lHi-ili.i''iii.i i 4 '. " - f
'IT !.. ! !. Mili an ',
di us ne i ut-i-siiy
i- n thin win- j
t.u o- nV !.- ,
i f i u I' D I
Ilii;'. ' ijnw Now l"i Hi Hiio- j I
If!-;. ! ;.. - -: ti-i .n..(V 1 i
i -v ,.
the cot and. looking at blm more
closely. I could see that he was white
and shaken.
"Hare you anything to tell us this
evening. Rogers?" I asked kindly But
be only shook till bead.
"I've told you everything I know,
sir," he nuswered In a low voice.
"Well,'' I added briskly. "I'll have to
ask you to get up Move the cot away
from the diRr, Parks."
Parks obeyed me with astonished
face
"You're not going In there, sir!" he
protested a I turned the knob.
"Yes. we are." I snld, and opened the
door "Is - Is"
"No. sir," broke In Tarks, under
standing. "The undertakers brought
the cotlln and put him in It and moved
bi:i) over to the drawing room this aft- i
ernoon, sir." j
"I'm glud ol that I want all the j
lights 111, Parks, Just as they were last j
night" j
Parks reached Inside the door and i
switched on th electrics. Then he j
went away, came back In a moment
with taper ami proceeded to light ;
the gas llehta A moment later the j
lights In the Inner room were also bias
ing "There you sre, sir." said Parks, and
retreated to tbe door. "Will you need
me?"
"Not now. But wait In' the hall out
side. We may need you."'
1 led the way Into the Inner room
"Well, there It Is," I said, and iuS
ded toward the lloule cabinet "It Isn't
too late to give It up. Godfrey."
"Oh. yes. It Is." he said coolly, re
moving bis coat. "It was too late the
moment you told me that story Why
l.rstet. If I gave It up I should never
levp again' Draw up a chair and
watch me "
He pulled back bis shirt sleeves ami
placed his electric torch on the floor
desiile (he cabinet Then he paused
with folded arms to contemplate this
masterpiece of M. Boule
"Ii Is a lHaiity," be said at last and
then drew out the little drawers, one
iiftei anotlifi. looked them over ami
Iklnceit them carefully on a chair
"Now," lit- added, "let us see If there
Is any spiuw that tsu't uccouuted for.'
He tiKik from his pocket a folding
rule ot Ivory. oieued It uud Uegau u
series of measurement so searching
and Intricate that half an hour passed
without a word being spoken Then
he pulled up another cbalr and sat
down beside me.
"I seem to he pretty much up against
It." be said, "no doubt Just as the de
signer of the cabinet would wish me to
be. The whole bottom of the desk Is
inclosed, and those three little drawers
take up only a small pi.i t of tbe spare
Then the back of tbe cabinet seem tu
be djiil'le at least there's a space ol
ibree tncbea I can't account for So
tbere'a room for a doien aeeret draw
era. If the MoDteaiitiii retpitred ao many
And bow to bud the combination."
Ue adjusted tbe steel gauntlet care
fully to bis right band and sat down
on the floor before the cabinet
"I'll begin a I tbe bottom." be said
"If there la any spot I miss, tell me
of If
He ran Me Angers up and down tbe
graceful leg, carefully feeling every
Inequality of tns elaborate bronse or
oamentatloo. Then bs examined tbe
bottom ef tbe table minutely, using bis
torch to Illumine every crevice, bat
again without result , .i
Another balf hour passed ao, and
when at last be came out from under
the table faia face was dripping with
sweat
"It's trying work," ha aald, sitting
down again and mopping hla face.
"But Isn't tt a beauty. Lester? The
more I look at It toe more wonderful It
seems."
"I'd point out one thing to yon, God
frey," I said. "If you go on poking
about with tbe lugers of both bands,
aa you've been doing, you are Just as
apt to get struck on ths left band as
on tbs right." r. '. . . ' '
x.vTbat's true." be agreed. "Stop me
If I forget" '
There were- threes kittle drawers In
the front of the table and these God
frey bad removed. He Inserted his
hand into the space from which be
bad taken them and examined It care-'
fully Then. Inch by Inch, be rap bis
fingers over-the bo 'and arabesques ;
.wlthwulcb the sides and top of the ,
table Were Im-rusted. It seemed to meJ'J
that If the secret drawer were any-", J
wbcfc It must be somewhere In this,
part of the t-ablnet. and I watched htm l
with breathless' interest But no Md-
- . - , jt . . i
den sprma whs loueneu. uw uumi
sprang opn; no poisoned fangs de
ac-fiiled '
SWell;" a Id Ciodfrey. slttliitf ttsck In
bis ctydr" at Oijljiix) ilutf Di fin e
aBifiV'uoWll try the u,r prL"
The hjij-'r 'i:irt of tin- n! iif' "ii
Stxtl-d Of a ocries
of il rawer rl.-flnjt
one above'the othe uud leiuiuui'd nj I
a" WjmSS'r pcflili'viit, t., UipaL .:;.
oroacrcWwA, wit some b-adtif Ul little j
broii7..t tTli'e draWf-rs tbemM-lvea were j
. . l ... . ......r.l,,,r In l!
center ani '-oveo-d with s uot Intrl- j
tH lfi;j ci.jirsbesuued tncrunta
"If there I . secret jirer
snld Uoarrey, "It Is somewhere lu tb
back, where there seems to be a hollow
space. But to discover tbe comblua
tlou"-
Ha ran bis angers over tbe Inlay,
and then, struck by a suddeu thought
tested each of the little tigures along
the tympanum, but they were all set
solidly In piai-e.
"There's one thing sure." he said,
"the combination, whatever It Is. Is of
such a nnt n re that It could uot te dis
covered accidentally. It Is probably a
questiou of releasing a series of lev
era, which must De worked In a cer
tain order or the drawer wou't open
I'm arraidl we are up against It "
"1 can't preteud I'm sorry," I said
with a sigh of relief. "As far as I am
concerned. I'm perfectly willing thi)t
the drawer should go undiscovered "
I don't know what It was. for I was
conscious of no noise, but some myste
rious attraction drew my eyes to the
window at the farther side of the
room. Near the top of the wooden
shutter, which Parks and I had put In
place, whs a small semicircular open
ing, to alios the passage of a little
light, perhaps, and peering through
this opening were two eyes two burn
ing eyes.
They were fixed upon Godfrey, who
was now examining the back of the
cubtnet with such feverish Intentnes
that they did not see my glance, and
I lowered my bend Instantly.
"Godfrey," I said lu a shaking voice,
"don't look up, dou't move your head,
but there Is noine one peering through
the hole in the shutter opposite us."
Godfrey did not answer for quite a
minute.
"Did he ee you look at blm?" be
asked at lusL
"No; be was looking at you, with bis
eyes almost starting out of bis bead.
I never saw such eyes!"
"Did you see anything of his facer
No; the hole Is too small."
"How high Is the bole?"
"Near the top of the window."
Godfrey cauie back to his chair a
moment Inter, sat down In It and pass-
ed his handkerchief alowly over his
face. Then be leaned forward, appar
ently to examine the legs of tbe cabi
net "1 saw him," be said, "or, rather, I
saw hla eyes. Rather fierce, aren't
they?"
"They're a tiger's eyes," I aald, with
convlctton.
"Well. there la no use going aneau
with this while be la out there. Even
If we found the drawer we'd both be
dead an Instant later."
"You mean he'd kill oar
"lie would shoot oa Instantly. Im
agine what a sensation that would
make, Lester. Parka hears two pistol
shots, rushes tn and finds oa lying
here dead. Grady would have a con
vulsion, and we should both be fa
mous for a few days."
"I'll aeek fame In aome other way,"
I aald dryly. "What are you going to
do about tt?"
"We've got to try to capture blm.
and If we do well, we ahall have tbe
fame all right! But It' food deal
Ilk trying to pick op acoroion-
Ccntinued on Page 8
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
BEN C. CROW, Paator.
Bible School 10:00 a. m.. Morning
worship 'and communion 11:00 a. m.
Evangelistic service T:30 p. m. Prayer
meeting- Wednesday 7:30 p. m.
The attendance at .tbe Christ-
Spring
:,1
mm
L,-ii:r
LETT ICE AND REAPED SUM:
FLOA'ERS DID NOT 00 HIS TRADING' AT OUR SfORE.
All our reeds are cleai'and carefully seJiecU'd
from the finest stocks In the country. Yoid can
absolutely- re1y-xn .' their exceptloTi ally fine
- quality; -.:
We carry,a feat'variety, but If we have not
.yvluit you want, we will get it for you. Come
nd inspct our stock today.
FLUKE & JOHNSON
r
JT
it
j J
f i
fl
J
I
i
j i
4
ian Church last Sunday morninp;
and the 'music!" at the 'evening
hour made JusTfeel asr tho'tur'
lahor wasfriPttiri virn.' T T;? faT
day "Some Appointments Made
wtthJChrist" will be the subject,
of tnemorninp sern on "ITeR
ven and Earth!Artj Full og Ihyr
Glory" by Moore will be th ans
hemunj? et the services la the
evening Mr. Crow will sjuak ot
'Preaching the Ciws" and this
will be preceded by a gem ral ev
aneelaticlfsong service in wntrra
the;m-w and oldf hn.rs will li
sung a'well as the ant htm
Bracket, ,' Erirg Nctr 1 Gi t a I
Salvation."
If you have never met with uf
come thisltSunday. If you- are
not attending else where we
wili welcome you, in fact, any
and all whoJwiiCare at liberty to
enjoy all of our services with n.
Come this Sunday.
W. C. T. I). COLUMN
TheNcrittr 'm n 1 11 tit n
sibility for the matter in this
column. The Editor.
Officers of W. C. T. U.
President, Mrs. Esther Morgan.
Editor, Mra. Lucy I.. Vt'hiteaker.
The'.VV. C. T. U. met with Mrs
Sandifur. Roll call was answered
With scripture text, nineteen res
ponding. Reports were maoV on
the membership contest and the.
program for Friday'p rally. New
members were added to the rofil
Last week's business was finish
ed, other business transacted
and a delicious lunch served, and!
St Patrick Souvenirs given by
the hostess. Next meeting wilt
be with Mrs. Tapscott and all are
invited to attend.
Twenty seven were present at
roll call of the L. Ti L. in the M.
E. church. The lessons, songs
and campaign plans took up con
siderable time. A letter telling;
the children their part in the
campaign waa read from the
state secretary. The new cam
paign song was practiced for the
anniversary and badges given to
those who complied with th
rules. The Mercy Supt. reported
children learning: and inierested.
All are invited to the meetings.
The National L. T. L. report,
a membership of 16.000 and re
ports dues paid the last year as
follows: dues $803.60, Anna Gor
dan missionary fund $128, and.
lideral contributions to the Fran
cis Willard memorial fund, flow
er mission work; medal contests,
mercy departfnent, red letter
days and social, gatherings. Tho
Oregon children are reported in
this grand work.
THE MAN
WHO, AP-
PARFNT-
wste
U Ji v enwen